Air purifying and cooling apparatus.



Patented May 27,1902.

B. H, THOMAS. AIR PURIFYING AND COOLING APPARATUS.

' (Application filed H3121, 1901.)

2 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

Wih esses 1 25 W n1: NOHBIS rzrans co. PNOYO-LIYNEL. vusnmcrom u. c

Patented May '27, I902.

R. H.'THOMAS.

AIR PURIFYING AND COOLING APPARATUS.

(Application fllad Bay 21, 1901.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(NulodoL) W lxyzzgior r 2 warns mins 00.. mom-um UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RioniA R'D'I-I. THOMAS, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

AIR PURIFYING AND COOLING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 700,859, dated May- 27, 1902. Application filed May 21, 1901. Serial No. 61,280. (No model.)

To aZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it knownthat I, RICHARD H. THOMAS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ohicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Air Purifying and Cooling Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to apparatus for purifying air previous to its use-for Ventilating, cooling, or heating purposes; and it has for its object to provide a simple, cheap, and efficient construction by means of which the air may be first washed and may then have all moisture abstracted therefrom, so that it will be introduced in a dry state, further objects and advantages of the invention having'reference to the specific structural features that secure these results.

In the drawings forming a portion of this specification, and in which like numerals of reference indicate similar parts in the several views, Figure 1 is a sectional view taken vertically through an air-chute and showing the arrangement of the spraying-pipes, the baffleplates for abstracting the water from the air, and the drain for carrying off the water from the baffle plates. Fig. 2 is a detail view showing the drain-trough in vertical section and the discharge ends of the baffie-plates in elevation. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view showing one of the bafiie-plates used in the structure shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1 and showing an arrangement of bafile-plates for a lateral draft. Fig. 5 is a vertical section of the structure .shown in Fig. 4 and showing the transverse shapes of the baflie-plates. Fig. 6 is a diagram showing the arrangement of the plates in Fig. 4. Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 5 and showing differently-formed battle-plates.

Referring now. to the drawings, and more particularly to Figs. 1 to 3 thereof, there is shown an air duct or chute 15, in which are disposed the baffle-plates 16, this chute having its upper and lower ends open, so that currents of air may be entered at the top thereof and passed down and out at the bottom. Each of the baffle-plates, as shown, consists of a main or body portion, one edge of which is bent upwardly, as shown at 17, in the form of a return-flange, lying at an acute angle to the body portion. In the present 'a drain-pipe 19.

construction there are shown five rows of these baffle-plates, although it will be understood that there may be any number of rows, as may be desired under different conditions, the plates being disposed one above another and with the flanges of all of the plates vertical 7 and the plates inclined from end to end with the bodies of the plates of each row parallel. The'plate of the bottom row at one end thereof is attached with its outer edge of its body against the side of the chute. These plates are attached at their elevated ends against the inner face of the chute, and at their lower ends they are passed into and braced by a casing 18, secured to the wall of the chute and at the bottom of which is a trough, from which leads The plates are continued through the casing and are attached with their ends againstthe wall of the chute. The baffle-plates thus form a series of troughs, the upper side edges of the bodies of which slightly overlap the flanges, and the moisture collected on these plates runs down them and into the casing and through at the bottom thereof, from which it flows through the drain-pipe. The ends of the baffle-plates that project into the casing at the side of the chute have openings 20 through their angles topermit the water to run therefrom, it being noted that in the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 5 the troughs are at the bottoms of the plates. At the sides of the chute and opposite to each other are disposed the two water-supply pipes 22 and 23, one of which is slightly below the other, and which pipes are provided with nozzles 24L and 25, disposed to discharge water transversely of the chute in the form of a veil above the baffle-plates. The air is blown through this veil of water, which acts to wash out the foreign matter, which falls with the water onto the baffleplates, down which it is washed into the easing, and thence out through the drain-pipe. The air in the passage thereof over the baffle-plates strikes them violently and is thrown from one row to another, with the result that the moisture is shakeh or beaten out andthe air passes from the lower row of plates in a comparatively dry state and free from impurities.

In Figs. 4, 5, and 6 there is shown a chute 30, having the casing 18 at one side and from which leads a drain-pipe, the air being passed through the chute in a horizontal direction, although it will be understood that the chute may be constructed to permit of the air being passed either upwardly or downwardly therethrough. There are two forms of baflieplates in this arrangement, one vertical row of plates 32 having the same form as the plates in Fig. 1, as has also the row of plates 33. While there may be any number of these vertical rows or series of plates, four rows are shown in the present instance, and between the rows 32 and 33 is arow34= of plates,while beyond the row 33 is a fourth row 35, this arrangement being continued until the desired number of rows is secured. Each of the platesin the rows 32 and 35 consists of abody portion, at the upper edge of which is formed a channel or gutter 36 by bending the metal of the plate downwardly and backwardly at a right angle and then upwardly at a right angle and then forwardly at a right angle. The air then entering through the chute strikes first the plates 35 and,'passing upwardly thereover, blows across the channels or troughs at the upper edges thereof,where eddy currents are set up, which enter the troughs, and a portion of the moisture is removed, the air then passing against the under sides of the plates 33 and being deflected downwardly against the faces and the flanges of plates 34, from which it passes to plates 33 and then to plates 32 and on into the chute. In advance of the baffle-plates are disposed the water-pipes 37 and 38, having nozzles 39 and 40, which project the water in a veil, through which the air is passed to wash it, the impurities and water being then removed from the air by the baiile-plates. The water caught by the baffle-plates is carried through the troughs thereof to the casing, from which leads the drain-pipe, and the bottoms of the troughs within the casing are provided with openings through-which the water passes, as in the first instance described.

In Fig. 7 there is shown a construction wherein the baflle-plates instead of having the cross-sectionally-rectangular troughs at their upper edges have semicircular troughs 41, the structure being otherwise the same as that just described.

It will be understood that the lower ends of the baffle-plates may extend through the wall of the chute, or the casing 18 may be omitted, or that other means for receiving the water from said plates may be employed. Also the watersupply pipes may .be dispensed with and in lieu thereof openings may be formed in the pipes. Furthermore, other modifications may be made and any suitable materials and proportions may be used for the. various parts without departing from the spirit ofthe invention.

What is claimed is- 1. An air purifier and cooler comprising a chute having alternating series of battleplates, the plates of one series having troughs at their upper edges and the plates of the other series having troughs at their lower edges, said series being disposed one behind another and slanting longitudinally in the same direction, and means for discharging a veil of water transversely of the chute and in advance of the plates. g

2. An air purifier and cooler comprising a chute having a casing at one side and on the interior thereof, alternating series of bafileplates projected into the casing, the plates of one series having troughs at their upper edges and the plates of the other series having troughs at their lower edges, said series being disposed one behind another and slanting longitudinally in the same direction, means for discharging a veil of water in advance of the plates, and means for freeing the casing of water.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

RICHARD H. THoMAs.

Witnesses:

CHAS. KILOUDER, HENRY F. SMITH. 

